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Posted on Fri, May 08, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. EST

 

BEST OF

AUG 2007-JULy 2008

MULTIMEDIA:

Video: "CASAs Celebration Captivates Assembled Audience’s Anticipation" (Feb 20, 08, 12:35 p.m.)

Video: MORE APRIL-MAY MULTIMEDIA FOOTAGE... (May 08, 9:37 a.m.)

Video: "Wayman Wins Rapping Rendition Celebrating Chi O's Consecutive Fourth First" (March 07, 08, 11:54 a.m.)

Video: "Redeemer Rescues Radically Curing Cocainism!" (March 11, 08, 10:52 p.m.)

Video: ‘Fashion Show’ Sends Models Message Mesmerizing Many! (Feb 20, 08, 11:56 a.m.)

EXPRESSIONS:

"What have you done for your F.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (June 15, 08, 5:40 p.m.)

"What D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E will you go to meet Jesus?" (July 03, 08, 10:06 a.m.)

"What does G.O.S.S.I.P do to you?" (April 17, 08, 6:52 p.m.)

Forever, Redeemer Everyday Excitingly Delivers Omnipotent Message! (F.R.E.E.D.O.M)” (July 05, 08, 9:48 a.m.)

"Who do you let M.O.L.D your life?" (July 16, 08, 11:19 a.m.)

NEWS:

Video: "Henien's Helpfulness Highly Honored at Awards!" (March 03, 2008, 12:01 p.m.)

Video: "Joyfully Jerome Bettis Briefly Delivers Duquesne Graduates Galvanizing 7-minute Speech! (May 03, 08, 8:44 p.m.)

Photos: Thirty-Fifth Time, Thousands Towards Truth Memorialized ‘March for Life 2008' (Jan 23, 08, 1:09 p.m.)

HOTPRESSIONS:

“Rebuttal to the Pitt News editorial, 'Abstinence-only education not way to go!'" (Dec 08, 07, 4:34 p.m.)

GREEK LIFE:

Video: "Rags Reveal Riches, Reminding Kappa's Kingdom Connection!" (March 30, 08, 1:34 p.m.)

Video: "Alpha Delta Pi's Analyze Lambda Chi Alpha's Love Story!" (March 31, 08, 1:21 p.m.)

Video: "TriSigma's Travel Through Time Paging PiKA's" (April 01, 08, 2:27 p.m.)

Video: "TriDelta's Triumphantly Tackle Twisted Villians Vindicating City's Citizens, Seeking SAE's Support!" (April 02, 08, 2:30 p.m.)

Video: "DeltaPhiEpsilon Dominates Wonderland With DeltaChi's Daily!" (April 05, 08, 7:36 p.m.)

ENTERTAINMENT:

Video: "Dark Knight' Kindles Joker's Judgment, Justifying Satan's Sinister Soul Search" (July 23, 08, 8:34 p.m.)

"'Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' caringly Christocentric" (May 14, 08, 2:29 p.m.)

"Totally Baked'  Brings Beelzebub's Badness!" (April 28, 08, 4:43 p.m.)

"National Treasure 2 Tests Truth Through Time!" (May 21, 08, 10:37 a.m.)

"Flawless' Forgoes Forgiveness For Foes" (June 06,08, 4:34 p.m.)

FEATURE:

"Top 14 creative responses given by Market Central customers for Love is......" (Feb 14, 08, 1:42 p.m.)

"PGSIS 2008 Presented Poem Welcoming Women & Men Mightily" (June 22, 08, 3:45 p.m.)

"Top 14 creative responses given by Market Central customers for being the president of the United States would be like......" (Feb 18, 08, 1:49 p.m.)

Slideshow: "Light Up Night 2007 Lifts Students Spirits"  (Nov 18, 07, 2:00 a.m.)

Video:  Light Up Night's Nativity Creche Christened Colorfully!  (Nov 17,07, 11:52 p.m.)

IMPRESSIONS:

PS Editorial: Hussein Has Hebrew Hating Friends For Foes! (July 18, 08, 1:32 a.m.)

PS Editorial: "Oust Obama Over Commanding Country Cause Character Critical!" (July 30, 2008, 4:11 p.m.)

PS Editorial: "Homosexuals Have Maligned Marriage Maledicting Messiah's Message!" (May 16, 08, 5:01 p.m.)

Dad Delivered Daily, Delighting Family of Five Forever! (Dec 22, 07, 11:22 p.m.)

PS Editorial: "Badmouthing Black Woman Willingly, Jacobs Justifies Expelling Employee!" (May 23, 08, 10:14 p.m.)

FOOD:

View the week 6 interactive menu and nutritional information for Market Central  (Sept 24, 07, 10:58 a.m.)

"Cereals Classified Favorites For Happy High School Students" (July 14, 08, 3:45 p.m.)

Photos: "Slide Show of Hollywood Theme Night at Market Central"  (Feb 06, 08, 1:51 p.m.)

SPORTS:

Video: "Ramon's Rushed Shot Secures Panther Points, Validating Victory!" (Feb 10, 08, 1:37 p.m.)

PS Editorial: "Patriots Perfectionist, Bill Belichick Tumbles Through Treason" (Feb 05, 08, 2:08 a.m.)

Video: "Christ Captivated Coach Wannstedt Wonderfully With Wisdom!" (March 28, 07, 11:00 a.m.)

Slideshow: "Chair charred capping celebration, commandeering cops" (Dec 03, 07, 1:49 p.m.)

Slideshow:"Morgantown Memories Propel Pitt Fans Festivities!"  by Matt Keeny & Ramesh C. Reddy (Dec 03, 07, 12:47 p.m.)

 

Forgetting Our Redeemer Gives Eternal Tears! (F.O.R.G.E.T)

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard


May 08, 2009

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song by called which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

SCRIPTURE:
His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" (Mark 8:4, NIV)

Observations:
How do the disciples react?
"But where in this remote place
can anyone
get enough bread
to feed them?"

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of the disciples response?
One thing for sure is that the disciples were earthly minded still and were definitely aware of their surroundings and where the people were at for the 3-day retreat with Jesus. They call the place that the crowd, disciples, and Jesus were at to be a remote place, making the inference that there are not any stores nearby for anyone to get enough bread.

By making the declaration 'can anyone' they have also included Jesus as part of anyone. This shows that the disciples either were very forgetful of what Jesus has been doing while He is with them or still lacking faith in the power of Jesus to do miracles even in remote places.

The disciples should have remembered how Jesus fed the 5000+ before and yet they question Jesus with 'where can anyone get enough bread to feed them?'  when Jesus was so concerned for these people who were with Him for 3 days based on "Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." (Mark 1b-3, NIV)

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life based on the question the disciples asked Jesus. The disciples were so focused on the circumstances they were in such as being in a remote place where there were no stores, having to deal with a big crowd to feed without knowing where the food would come from, and leaning on to their own understanding when they used the phrase 'can anyone' that they FORGET who Jesus is and what Jesus had already done.

HOW GOSPEL HAS AFFECTED MY TESTIMONY REGARDING F.O.R.G.E.T:

Sadly I have been no different from the disciples many times. There have been days when I have forgotten what Jesus has already done in my life when I have faced difficulty instead of focusing on the One who has the solutions. I have seen the miracles Jesus did in my life and those around me and yet when I am faced with circumstances that make me feel that I am in a remote place with no way out, I have given into that mentality. I have leaned on to my own understanding to the point that I did not give the Lord the opportunity to direct my path and lead my path with success. I should always take God's promises at His Word and claim them:

"Trust in the Lord completely and lean not on to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths and crown your efforts with success!" (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Last night, I was talking to a friend of mine and realized how often I lean on to my own understanding. I had told the person that I stepped down from a leadership position because of conflict internal and external that made me want to do other things. The external conflict had to do with my internal conflict.

My internal conflict was dealing with a CRITICAL, COMPLAINING, COVETOUS, DOUBTFUL, and REBELLIOUS ATTITUDE on my part. I felt that leaving a leadership position because of those attitudes on my part would be in the best interests of everyone so as to curb the EXTERNAL CONFLICTS that would result.

On the surface, who would argue that a leader should have those attitudes?
No one would! People don't want leaders like that so I wanted to step down.

The PROBLEM:
I forgot about who the Lord is and what the Lord wants to do in my life. Just as the disciples FORGOT that Jesus had already fed 5000+ before this incident and crowd, I FORGOT that me being in a leadership position was because of the Lord placing me there. The Lord already saw what internal and external conflicts I would face and yet He chose me to be a leader in that position.

Instead of staying there and allowing Christ to work in my life through the problems and sins I face as only He can, I resigned even without telling the Lord about it. I did not even spend time with the Lord before making that decision. I leaned on to my own understanding and FORGOT about Proverbs 3:5-6.

My friend reminded me last night after the National Day of Prayer meeting that I made a wrong decision to step down because every leader the Lord chose had flaws in their character and yet the Lord used them for His honor and glory. He reminded me about a video we had watched long time ago about all the biblical charactersTHAT GOD HAD CALLED TO HIS WORK, who had tremendous flaws but they did not just step down.

He also reminded me, it is one thing for me to STEP DOWN ON MY OWN and ANOTHER THING FOR THE LORD TO REMOVE ME.

He told me when he has a leadership position even if he becomes very discouraged and wants to quit, he will never step down on his own because he believes whatever leadership position he gets will be from the Lord and only the Lord should have the authority to remove him and not himself.

He made me see I should have followed that path of letting the Lord Jesus remove me from a leadership position instead of leaning on to my own understanding and all the sins I face. If the Lord wanted to remove me from that position, He could have done that multiple times. I did not have to make a decision without consulting the Lord Jesus but I did. I did because I FORGOT.

I forgot who Jesus is and the blessing it was to have been chosen to do His work. I forgot that I am not my own but was bought with a price of BLOOD by the One who chose me to serve where He placed me. I was focusing too much on the circumstances I was faced with and the mountains I was dealing with instead of the One who could help me overcome those circumstances.

In essence, I made a mistake in stepping down but that's what happens when we lean on to our own understanding and make decisions in haste. There is a saying, 'Haste Makes Waste'. But those kinds of decisions usually happen when we don't bring Jesus into the picture.

We forget how much Jesus wants to be involved in all facets of our life and not only some. He wants all the areas of our lives to be subject to Him and not keep some for ourselves. I am no different from the disciples who saw the miracles of Jesus and yet forgot what Jesus could still do.

I made the same mistake but just as Jesus did not scold the disciples or get upset because they keep forgetting who they are with and what He can do in their lives, Jesus formed a solution which will be evident later.

In the same way, when I stepped down, Jesus made me see gently how wrong I was in leaning on to my own understanding. More than that, He drew me closer to Him. Jesus made me see gently that the position Jesus gave me I had turned down on my own because I did not depend on Him. Oh how true that was.

When we forget who Jesus is and what He wants to do in our lives, we put ourselves in a precarious position. The Good News however is that the Lord Jesus does not let us stay in our mistakes and sin. He deals with us by sending different persons our way.

Jesus could have been like, "Those disciples I have chosen are useless because they just don't get it and keep forgetting and complaining. They are critical and doubtful."

But Jesus did not, instead he always met them where they were at especially in their mistakes. It is in their mistakes, He showed them His abundant love and grace.

In the same way, Jesus could have been like, "I am very disappointed with Ramesh because he leaned on to his own understanding and stepped down from a position I chose for him. He does not remember all the times I brought him through internal and external conflict. It is useless to minister unto him"

Human beings get frustrated and think in those terms but not our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That's because of the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just that we were sinners and Jesus died and came back to life to save us.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ goes beyond that. It deals directly with all facets of our lives which the Lord Jesus is making me see more and more.

I have seen the Lord's grace in my life abundantly this past week even after my mistakes. Yeah, I cannot undo what I already did because the leadership position was given to others but He let me learn from my mistakes. If the Lord calls me to another leadership position in His timing, I pray I will  not  let forgetfulness of His character and His ways, to make me do decisions in haste. IF HE GIVES, HE ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE IT AWAY. IT IS NOT UP TO ME TO QUIT AND GIVE UP.

If I do that, I will miss out on the blessings He wants to shower because I leaned on to my own understanding.

I was reminded of what God told Esther when Esther was chosen to lead the Jewish people out of their predicament:

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14, NIV)

God in His sovereignty gives us opportunities to use the free will He has given us for His honor, glory, and purposes but He never makes a mistake.

Because I stepped down from leadership did not mean God made a mistake in choosing me. No, God already knew I would do that but He still chose me for His purposes and to work in areas of my life especially, 'LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING'

If Esther had not agreed to do what she did, deliverance would have still come but she would have missed out on the blessings.

There are areas in my life I have missed out on blessings because of my decisions but the GOOD NEWS is that it has never been permanent. Praise the Lord! God uses weak  and broken vessels and makes them what He wants them to be.

The Good News of the Gospel is even when we mess up and quit in areas of our lives, the Lord Jesus is sovereign to work in us through our mistakes and sin. He will never leave us where we are at and in our mistakes. But He will always send others into our lives to prune us so we can bear fruit that will last. That is because of HIS TRANSFORMING GRACE.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.... You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (John 15:4-5,16, NIV)

Jesus knew I would resign and yet He chose me. He did that because of His sovereignty and had also chosen wonderful leaders in advance to replace me when I made my unwise decision. When I stepped down there were others to take my place and be a blessing to those around them including me.

It was a divine appointment that I had that conversation with that friend last night. It was Jesus telling me that He is not done with me yet. I was not in a leadership position because I had everything together but because the Lord chose me to be in that LEADERSHIP POSITION.

Lest I be misunderstood, I am not saying IT IS OKAY TO KEEP SINNING AND REMAIN IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION, IF THE SIN IS REBELLIOUS AND WE ARE NOT WILLING TO BE CHANGED BY THE LORD. IF WE WANT TO BE CHANGED BY THE LORD THEN LET HIM WORK IN US EVEN IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION WITHOUT RESIGNING.

If Jesus wants to remove you from a leadership position, it will happen so you need not remove yourself. Scripture is clear about those that have been removed from a position of power even though God chose them first: King Saul, Judas Iscariot, Pharoah, etc.

If you have turned from the Lord and want to do things your own way without DEPENDENCE on the Lord like mentioned in yesterday's devotional, you can be removed but it will be the Lord's doing and not your own. Don't take the leadership position God gave you and make your own decisions with it. Don't follow in my footsteps. The Gospel is here to free all of us. I should not have forgotten that.

"Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons;  he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." (Daniel 2:19b-21, NIV)

Walk in the Lord's grace instead of making decisions on your own. He is in control and subject your lives to Him for all He has done by His SAVING GRACE.

Our walk with Christ does not end by HIS SAVING GRACE alone. When we are JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, our Christian adventure has just begun. Salvation is the beginning of the adventure. We are saved for eternity in Christ Jesus but the ADVENTURE is based on SANCTIFICATION BY HIS GRACE here on earth. It won't affect our SALVATION. Christ paid for our Salvation with His BLOOD. He will not refund us for we are covered in His blood for eternity. Praise the Lord!

God's GRACE is not just to SAVE us from our sins but LIVE our lives by His GRACE.

There is a book I am reading right now that I did not like to read before but would recommend now as God's been working in my life through Pastor Ed, Pastor Hugo, and Edwin. It is called TRANSFORMING GRACE by Jerry Bridges.

Books like that are necessary because there are so many times we FORGET what Jesus did for us on the Cross at Calvary and live our lives like we have FORGOTTEN that WE HAVE BEEN SAVED AND REDEEMED BY THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE when we have turned ourselves over to Him. We forget all the ETERNAL BLESSINGS BELONG TO US NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED INTO HIS KINGDOM.

Instead, in our forgetfulness, we are so quick to focus on our problems instead of the One who came to give solutions. I know I have been guilty of that.

Friend, if you forget everything from this testimony of how the Lord has been using His Gospel to transform my life, please don't forget this.

Transformation by His Grace is a result of HIS DOING and NOT OUR DOING. None of us can transform our lives on our own so FORGET those SELF-HELP books for even those without the Lord's intervention cannot give you lasting help.

The people were fed because Jesus intervened. Jesus wants to intervene in your lives too just as He did in mine. It starts with us realizing how useless and worthless we really are apart from the saving and redemptive work of Christ in our lives. It is sin that makes us worthless.

Oh, you may say but I am not worthless but somebody?

Really?

I used to think along those lines too but if God sees all our righteous acts as filthy rags (meaning like a women's menstrual cycle cloth), how can we be worthy of anything. The righteous things we do apart from Christ is seen as filthy rags. That means we are worthless in God's sight.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins." (Isaiah 64:6-7, NIV)

But that's not the end. For that is why Jesus Christ came into this world to make us feel worthy and rest in Him. This is not anything we have done but the work the Lord has already begun. Though our works are like filthy rags and our sin has separated us from the Father, the Father has never abandoned us.

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64:8, NIV)

The work God began, He began with sending Christ into this world to redeem you and me.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17, NIV)

We are somebody now because of what God in His love did for us through Jesus Christ when we accept His free gift of grace.  Jesus came to redeem us by His blood and set us free from the bondage of sin and death.

That is so exciting for me that even when I mess up, I am taken back to the cross and find my hope, help, and healing at the Cross of Jesus Christ by His redemptive power.

That can happen for you too friend. Yes, it can because we will be adopted into His family and He will work in us and through us for His honor and glory. Praise the Lord. Friend, He calls you and me by name. Wow!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." (Ephesians 1:3-10, NIV)

I ask you now dear friend, what do you forget in life?
Dear friend, there are things in our lives, it is worth forgetting about especially if those things will keep us in bondage and we cannot move on. There are other things in our lives we should never forget about such as the memories of our loved ones and how much they mean to us, what loving way people have served us, and especially what Jesus has done for us in our lives.

The disciples were stressed out and in bondage to the circumstances they were exposed to because they forgot about what Jesus had already done in their lives and those around them previously. Now, they are faced with the same situation and instead of telling Jesus, 'Lord, let's take care of it like you fed the 5000, their response is that enough bread to feed them cannot be found by anyone in this remote place. They already forgot. We do not know why they forgot but we can know why we forget.

Friend, when we take our mind and focus off Jesus and are too focused on the problems at hand, we will get so stressed out hoping for a solution to the problem that we do not ask the One who can give us the solution to the problems at hand. Jesus loves you so much and does not want you to forget what He has done for you in the past, what He can do for you now, and what He will do for you.

Yes, we will be placed in situations in our lives that we put ourselves in a position to forget what Jesus wants to do for us if we are not focused on Christ. I do not want that for you or for me. You already read what happened to me.

We should never forget why Jesus came into this world and what Jesus did for us. Jesus came into this world to save wretched human beings like you and me when we have been in bondage to sin. Yes, friend regardless of whether your life is going well or not, we all are in bondage to sin. The thing with bondage is that we cannot be set free on our own but we need outside deliverance and that is what Jesus came to give.

Jesus died on the cross on the hill of Calvary for you and me at the place called Golgotha so your sins and my sins can be nailed to the cross and His precious blood that flowed could cleanse us of all our sins and set us free. Yes, friend it is the precious cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that set me free from my bondage to sin and can set you free too. The Good News is it did not end at the cross but after Jesus was buried, Jesus came back to life on the 3rd day to save, to save all those that come to Him by His grace. This is exciting to know.

Do not give up or forget what Jesus meant to you in the past and what Jesus did for you and what He can still do for you now and later.

You may have come to know Jesus and love Him so much, you may have even been involved in youth group and fellowships but now you feel far away because the things of this world have had a grasp on you. It is not too late to come back to Jesus. You may have forgot about Jesus but Jesus has not forgotten about you and what you mean to Him.

Jesus loves you as you are and waits with open arms for you to come back to Him. Jesus will never forget you and waits for that day to receive you back in His arms of love. Right now maybe things are satisfying in your life that you think you do not need Jesus but everyone needs Jesus and that is why He came into this world.

He wants me to let you know that He is reaching out to you. He still loves you so much even if you have forgotten everything Jesus did for you. Come back to Jesus and give your life to Him to experience His love, grace, and mercy.

Maybe things have happened so bad in your life that you do not want to have anything to do with this Jesus but Jesus wants to have everything to do with you. He wants to be part of your life to guide you and lead you. Yes, He does friend.

So even when things are bad in life, with Jesus we can have the strength to deal with the strife as He will lead when we upon Him and His Word feed. The Lord gives us strength to bear what comes our way for we will always be in His care each day! He loves you and calls you by Name.

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:9-10, NIV)

If you have never given your life to Christ now is the time of Salvation! Come as you are and give yourself to Jesus for He will never forget you! Amen!

May you never forget what Jesus did for you on the cross and in your life! Amen!

"Forgetting Our Redeemer Gives Eternal Tears!" (F.O.R.G.E.T)/"What do you F.O.R.G.E.T in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving us dearly and that we are so precious and special in your sight. Thank you for caring for the spiritual and physical needs of the crowd that was near you. And thank you Lord for testing the disciples to work in their lives. Oh Lord the disciples forgot what you already did before and how true it is of us too. When we are faced with circumstances in our lives that look bleak we lean on to our own understanding instead of looking to you who can help us overcome our circumstances or give us strength to endure through it. Forgive me Lord for I have been guilty of that. I have also been guilty of taking what you did on the cross for me lightly because if I remembered always that you went to the cross to save me, I would know how much more you would do for me Lord. Yet, I forget. Forgive me Lord. Thank you for being there for me, for dying my sin, and coming back to life to save me. Thank you for redeeming me by your BLOOD. I love you Lord. I pray for the one that has forgotten about you that they would come back to you Lord. Please protect them from the enemies lies and draw them close to you and never let them go. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for your love and help in our lives. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
!

 May you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR, JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE.

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to live out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo shared this example this past Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is alive and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and live with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and restore us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (Colossians 5:17-21, NIV)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

May you come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior becoming His offspring so you can spend Eternity with Him. He is waiting for you. Come as you are. Please do not reject the gift of God.

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart and finding your new identity in Christ Jesus.

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

Prayer:
Jesus, I thank you for being the Bread of Life. You are the Living Bread of my life. Thank you for coming from Heaven and giving your life for the life of the world. You sacrificed yourself for humanity. Thank you Lord when we eat of you symbolically making you part of our life, digesting what you teach us by following you, we can be living Eternally, and the fruit that comes will reflect and resemble your life. I want that Father God. I want that Lord Jesus! I want that Holy Spirit! I know of a lot of people who partake of Holy Communion where the bread represents your body broken for their sin and the juice represents your blood shed for their sin. When we partake of Holy Communion, we are reminded that we are remembering you. I want to remember you always Lord Jesus. But for me to remember you always, I need to know you and acknowledge everything you said you are. So right now I acknowledge that you are my Lord and Personal Savior who died and rose again to give me life from sin. So right now, I come to you and say how sorry I am for my sin and living a life on my own. I repent of my sin and ask you to forgive me of my sin with your cleansing blood which I accept. Wash me and I will be clean from this infection of sin. Come Lord Jesus and please become part of my life as you live in me and I will live for you. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I do need your Spirit to reside in me and work in me and through me so I surrender all that I am and will be to you. Whatever your will is for me, please give me the strength and willingness to bear it and rejoice in you. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Jesus for becoming my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and have answered me. I thank you that I am your child Oh God. I thank you for becoming my only Way to Eternal Life. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2009! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

 

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

 

Express Your View

 

.Click picture to read my dad's memoriam:


Nov 01, 1941 - Dec 17, 2007

' I AM ' Series Archives:

"What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (Dec 08, 07, 10:10 a.m.)

Gospel According to Mark
Revised Archives:

CHAPTER 1:

Mark 1:1: "What does the G.O.S.P.E.L mean to you?" (Aug 27, 08, 11:36 a.m.)

Mark 1:1-4: "How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y about prophesy?" (Aug 28, 08, 8:52 a.m.)

Mark 1:4-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to in life?" (Aug 29, 08, 10:29 a.m.)

Mark 1:7-9: "What do you S.T.A.N.D for in life?" (Aug 30, 08, 8:38 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E of Jesus in life?" (Sept 01, 08, 10:28 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N  in your life?" (Sept 02, 08, 10:28 a.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: "How do you handle the T.I.M.E given you?" (Sept 03, 08, 9:37 a.m.)

Mark 1:16-18: "What do you do with your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N in life?" (Sept 04, 08, 10:51 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-20: "Without having to P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.E what should you do in life?" (Sept 05, 08, 9:39 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-20: "How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?" (Sept 08, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

Mark 1:21-22: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you actively listen to in life?" (Sept 10, 08, 9:48 a.m.)

 Mark 1:23-28: "What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today in life?" (Sept 11, 08, 12:19 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G in your life?" (Sept 15, 08, 8:57 a.m.)

Mark 1:32-34: "Where do you need A.N.S.W.E.R.S in life?" (Sept 16, 08, 9:54 a.m.)

Mark 1:35-39: "How do you find S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time with the Lord ?" (Sept 17, 08, 9:30 a.m.)

 Mark 1:40-42: "Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N in life?" (Sept 18, 08, 9:19 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-45: "What do your actions C.A.U.S.E in life?" (Sept 20, 08, 7:19 a.m.)

CHAPTER 2:

Mark 2:1-2: "What do you do with your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y in life?" (Sept 22, 08, 9:37 a.m.)

Mark 2:3-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D.S do you have in life?" (Sept 23, 08, 9:50 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "Who do you I.N.T.E.R.C.E.D.E for in life?" (Sept 24, 08, 9:48 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S. take hold of you in life?" (Sept 25, 08, 10:16 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D daily?" (Sept 26, 08, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S in life?" (Sept 27, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 2:13-15: "Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E  in life?" (Sept 30, 08, 12:14 p.m.)

Mark 2:15-17: "Who do you I.N.V.I.T.E to dine with Jesus now?" (Oct 04, 08, 11:34 a.m.)

Mark 2:18-20: "When does F.A.S.T.I.N.G become important in your life?" (Oct 06, 08, 11:58 a.m.)

Mark 2:21-22: "How do you see your L.I.F.E now?" (Oct 07, 08, 10:24 p.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R is Jesus to you?" (Oct 11, 08, 12:59 p.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Oct 13, 08, 10:47 a.m.)

CHAPTER 3:

Mark 3:1-6: "Whose N.E.E.D.S do you meet in life?" (Oct 14, 08, 11:31 a.m.)

Mark 3:7-8: "What  is your I.M.P.A.C.T in life? " (Oct 15, 08, 11:22 a.m.)

Mark 3:9-10: "What  S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself in life?" (Oct 16, 08, 12:36 p.m.)

Mark 3:11-12:"How do you fight E.V.I.L in life?" (Oct 18, 08, 8:53 a.m.)

Mark 3:13-15: "What emphasis do you put on your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?" (Oct 20, 08, 11:07 a.m.)

Mark 3:16-19:"Where is your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (Oct 21, 08, 10:33 a.m.)

Mark 3:20: "Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (Oct 22, 08, 2:33 p.m.)

"How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y in life?" (Oct 23, 08, 2:41 p.m.)

"How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R in life?"(Oct 25, 08, 10:16 p.m.)

"Who are you campaigning and V.O.T.I.N.G for?" (Nov 04, 08, 7:48 a.m.)

Mark 3:28-30: "What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus in life?" (Nov 10, 08, 1:44 p.m.)

Mark 3:31-34: "What are you doing with G.O.D'S W.I.L.L in life?" (Nov 11, 08, 11:15 a.m.)

CHAPTER 4:

Mark 4:1-20: "Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (Nov 12, 08, 9:12 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "What do P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you in life?" (Nov 13, 08, 10:56 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "Where are you at your W.A.L.K with God?" (Nov 14, 08, 8:21 a.m.)

"What kind of L.A.M.P are you?" (Nov 17, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 4:21-23: "What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L in life?" (Nov 19, 08, 10:56 a.m.)

"What do you do with what you H.E.A.R in life?" (Nov 26, 08, 10:50 a.m.)

"What do you base your T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G on?"(Nov 27, 08, 11:05 a.m.)

"What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L. & Farming?"(Nov 28, 08, 8:24 a.m.)

"What are the S.T.O.R.M.S you face in life?"(Nov 28, 08, 8:24 a.m.)

"Will you let Jesus be the Lord of your P.A.S.T and move you forward?" (Dec 31, 08, 8:38 a.m.)

JANUARY 2009

Mark 5:1-13: "Where is your I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y this year of 2009?" (Jan 01, 09, 11:50 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "What will people report about you this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 02, 09, 10:40 a.m.)

Mark 5:15a: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G this New Year of 2009? (Jan 03, 09, 8:36 a.m.)

Mark 5:15-17: "What makes you A.F.R.A.I.D of coming to Jesus?" (Jan 05, 09, 12:44 p.m,)

Mark 5:18-19: "When will you T.A.R.G.E.T your family?" (Jan 06, 09, 9:56 a.m.)

Mark 5:20: "What do you do with your T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 07, 09, 1:16 p.m.)

Mark 5:21: "Will you G.A.T.H.E.R before Jesus in this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 08, 09, 10:39 a.m.)

Mark 5:22-24a: "How is your P.R.A.Y.E.R life with Jesus this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 09, 09, 7:56 a.m.)

Mark 24b-29: "Where do you feel U.N.C.L.E.A.N this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 10, 09, 9:49 a.m.)

"Where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 12, 09, 2:25 p.m.)

"Whose T.I.M.I.N.G are you following this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 13, 09, 11:49 a.m.)

"What place do you give G.O.D.S W.I.L.L in your life?" (Jan 15, 09, 8:26 a.m.)

CHAPTER 6:
Mark 6:1-3:
"Where do you seek W.I.S.D.O.M this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 17, 09, 9:52 a.m.)

Mark 6:2-3: "What do you do with your C.A.L.L.I.N.G in life?" (Jan 19, 09, 10:01 a.m.)

Mark 6:2-3: "Will your I.N.A.U.G.U.R.A.T.I.O.N be into the Kingdom of God?" (Jan 20, 091:15 p.m.)

Mark 6:4-6: "When do you feel A.C.C.E.P.T.E.D in life?" (Jan 21, 09, 9:54 a.m.)

Mark 6:6-7: "How is your F.A.I.T.H this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 22, 09, 11:42 p.m.)

Mark 6:7: "What do you T.E.A.C.H by your life?" (Jan 23, 09, 8:53 a.m.)

Mark:  "Who are you S.E.N.T by to where?" (Jan 24, 09, 9:55 a.m.)

Mark: "Where are you S.T.A.Y.I.N.G in life?" (Jan 26, 09, 10:48 a.m.)

Mark: "How is your spiritual H.E.A.L.T.H this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 28, 09, 11:36 a.m.)

Mark 4: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L instead of farming?" (Jan 31, 09, 7:44 a.m.)

FEBRUARY 2009:

Matthew: "How is your love on Valentines Day?" (Feb 14, 09, 5:38 a.m.)

Mark 6: "What have people H.E.A.R.D about Jesus through you?" (Feb 16, 09, 8:50 a.m.)

Mark 6: "What do you T.H.I.N.K about Jesus?" (Feb 17, 09, 10:10 a.m.)

Mark 6: "How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S in your life?" (Feb 18, 09, 10:20 a.m.)

Mark 6:17-20: "When do you S.P.E.A.K out?" (Feb 19, 09, 10:50 a.m.)

"What has the T.O.N.G.U.E done in your life?" (Feb 20, 09, 9:42 a.m.)

Mark 6: "What has P.R.I.D.E done to your life?" (Feb 21, 09, 9:20 a.m.) 

Mark 6: "What M.I.S.S.I.O.N have you been called to?" (Feb 23, 09, 10:00 a.m.)

Mark 6: "Where do you find your R.E.S.T in life?" (Feb 24, 09, 4:03 a.m.)

Mark 6: "Who have you made the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D of your life?" (Feb 25, 09, 11:05 a.m.)

MARCH 2009:

"What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (March 02, 09, 1:16 p.m.)

Whose C.A.R.E are you really in? (March 09, 09, 6:29 a.m.)

Mark 6:45:  "When do you P.R.A.Y in your life?"  (March 10, 09, 9:21 a.m.)

Mark 6:46-48a: "What T.R.O.U.B.L.E are you facing in life?"  (March 11, 09, 10:02 a.m.)

Mark 6:48b-51: "What are you A.F.R.A.I.D of in life?"  (March 12, 09, 10:10 a.m.)

Mark 6: "How have you H.A.R.D.E.N.E.D your heart?"  (March 14, 09, 11:11 a.m.)

Mark 6: "What are you R.E.C.O.G.N.I.Z.E.D for in life?"  (March 16, 09, 10:32 a.m.)

Mark 6: “Who have you I.N.T.R.O.D.U.C.E.D to Jesus?"   (March 18, 09, 10:11 a.m.)

CHAPTER 7:

Mark 7:1-8 "How do you view H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.S.Y in your life?" (March 21, 09, 9:41 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8: "How does the Lord view your W.O.R.S.H.I.P in life?" (March 23, 09, 11:04 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8: "Whose T.E.A.C,H.I.N.G.S do you follow in life?" (March 24, 09, 9:05 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8:  "How do you honor your P.A.R.E.N.T.S in life?" (March 25, 09, 10:48 a.m.)

Mark 7: "What makes you C.L.E.A.N in life?" (March 26, 09, 10:27 a.m.)

Mark 7: "When are you getting your H.E.A.R.T transplant?" (March 27, 09, 7:51 a.m.)

Mark 7: "What side of the C.R.E.D.I.T coin are you part of?" (March 28, 09, 9:42 a.m.)

HOLY WEEK:

"What happened to Jesus' dirty/stinky F.E.E.T one day?" (April 04, 09, 12:27 p.m.)

"Will you be the offspring of the S.E.E.D cultivated?"  (April 06, 09, 12:20 p.m.)

"What kind of L.I.G.H.T will you follow this HOLY WEEK?" (April 07, 09, 11:28 a.m.)

"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D this HOLY WEEK?" (April 08, 09, 11:28 a.m.)

"How do you know judgment will P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R you this HOLY WEEK?" (April 09, 09, 11:43 a.m.)

"What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you on and after GOOD FRIDAY this HOLY WEEK?" (April 10, 09, 8:41 a.m.)

"How do you match J.E.S.U.S attitude this HOLY WEEK?" (April 11, 09, 10:03 a.m.)

RESURRECTION SUNDAY:

"Why have you L.O.C.K.E.D youself away?" (April 13, 09, 1:41 a.m.)

"Why are you not at P.E.A.C.E in your life?" (April 14, 09, 11:43 a.m.)

"Will you be in Jesus' A.C.T.I.O.N film called life?" (April 15, 09, 11:55 a.m.)

"Why can you have J.O.Y in life?" (April 16, 09, 2:05 p.m.)

"What will give you P.E.A.C.E in life?" (April 18, 09, 12:32 p.m.)

"What won't Jesus do for you in your D.O.U.B.T.S?" (April 20, 09, 12:13 p.m.)

"What C.L.A.I.M do you make about Jesus?" (April 21, 09, 11:40 a.m.)

MARK 7:

Mark 7:25-26: "What do you do to S.A.V.E your loved ones?" (April 23, 09, 2:36 p.m.)

Mark 7:27-30: "What has A.D.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y done in your life?" (April 24, 09, 8:25 a.m.)

Mark 7:31-32: "Who do you B.R.I.N.G to Jesus?" (April 25, 09, 8:14 a.m.)

Mark 7:33-35: "Why cant you G.R.A.D.U.A.T.E in life?" (April 27, 09, 9:55 a.m.)

Mark 7:36-37: "What do you need done W.E.L.L in your life?" (April 28, 09, 10:14 a.m.)

CHAPTER 8:

Mark 8: "Why won't you G.A.T.H.E.R around Jesus in life?" (April 29, 09, 11:17 a.m.)

Mark 8: "Who needs your C.O.M.P.A.S.S.I.O.N this week?" (May 01, 09, 11:17 a.m.)

Mark 8: "What place do you give a R.E.T.R.E.A.T in your life?" (May 02, 09, 8:41 a.m.)

"What does Jesus not know about your S.U.R.R.O.U.N.D.I.N.G.S in life?" (May 04, 09, 9:05 a.m.)

"How is your W.H.O.L.E. life compared to its parts?"  (May 05, 09, 9:08 a.m.)

"What D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E won't you go to meet Jesus?"  (May 06, 09, 8:42 a.m.)

Nehemiah 1:5-11: "Where is your D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E on during this National Day of Prayer and beyond?"?"  (May 07, 09, 10:53 a.m.)

 

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